i want to tell you i feel everything all at once about the exact condition of
our existences...

tell you how everything you say makes perfect sense to me

but i knew i couldn't for it would change everything

in an instant

trying on various kid gloves in the conversation of my heart, but none ever
fit the situation right

I yearned to die besides you in the bed of our shattered lives

i never told anyone this

i kept this game going.....

never wanting this night to end..

i don't want to go back to the dreary streets of lower manhattan life

i want to meet you in my dreams and live in your beautiful life; summer in the
americana martha's vinyard tapestry,

the picture that you so exquisitely painted for me

the picture that haunts me and mesmerizes me all the same....

the picture that i strive so vigorously for but only fades in the distance.

the perfect girl made o-n-l-y and explicitly for me.... if there is any such
thing in this beat place.

as dawn spreads its brilliant fingertips of rose and the sun gleams off the
staggering grey clouds that reflect off the endless mountains of desolate
upstate new york, you turn to me to say that its time to go now that the sun
is up.....

but i never want to go, never want to leave you anyplace alone again.... I
have found the medication in you to ease this queasy feeling that leaves me
struggling to express the words and feelings of the moment as i fee it that i
seem to have around everyone else ...

the kind of feeling that leaves such a stale after taste that no drink of
anyone elses love that i imbibe could wash away

but i can't stay.. i could never do that to you

so its back on the road of life... destined to be sideswiped by the many loves
that merge in and out of the lanes of my sanity...

to fix the flat tires that have been incurred soo many times

by all the women that i have foolishly let into my frail heart.

At least i still have not run out of gas.

By Kyle
Williams

~*~

"Heart 0f Fire"

Twinkling eyes

Fireflies dancing in the night

Wishing stars

Lover's backdrop of romantic lights

Captive voices

Sound of distant thunder rolls

Warm to hot

Summer love takes it's toll

Silky touches

Racing hearts, no finish line

Enter seduction

Teasing and tempting curious minds

Alluring caress

Awake the creature that slumbers deep

Sensual strokes

Satin feelings invade sleep

Supple kiss

Entrancing union, souls embrace

Enticing tongues

Time stands still in breathless fate

Velvet whispers

Anticipation soars on eagle wings

Longing glances

Inspiring sundry quixotic dreams

Unforgettable smile

Melting stonewalls that ages repelled

Heart of fire

Closer, ever closer love is compelled

Darkheart

~*~

SWEET SMELL OF RED WINE

Melissa Schutte

I sit here, at this small table in an

old shop.

I smell the sweet red wine, and

memories come back, mostly feelings.

My love, my sweet love.

The memory of him saddens me.

I stare now in the blackness of the shop.

But I know that he is gone.

All that is left is the sweet smelling

red wine.

The sweet smelling red wine that stays

with me through the nightÖthe cold moonlit

night.

I remember our first toast, and now

it fades away as I take a single sip

of this rustic red wine that fills my senses

with sweetness but my mind with utter

sadness.

~*~

YOU'RE A TRUE FRIEND

By: Krisa Uy

You're a true friend

that's always been there.

to comfort me and

take care of me.

You're a true friend

who listen to me,

to help me make my

day bright.

You're a true friend

that embraces me when I'm sad.

to make me better

when I'm mad.

You're a true friend

who loves me for who I am,

you care for me

when no other can.

You're a true friend

that I will always cherish,

in my heart, that would

stay in my soul forever.

~*~

HERO OF NONE

Lin Sievert

She's caught in the under tow

and I want to save her

but instead of reaching out from

solid ground

staying on the pier

I jump in and brave the waters.

Always trying to be the hero

never knowing what it takes

the tide is stronger

then I expected

and before I know it

I'm going under too

At least we're not alone

It's peaceful under the water

everything moves slow

so much for being the hero

so much for everything

they thought we should know

~*~

EVENING, SINGLE BESIDE THE SEA

By: Amir Ridoy

A baby is spreading motherís vermilion in the sky,

you are sitting in the cool sun washing your lac-dye painted feet

in the water of sea, the leaves of Tamarisk is trembling,

I gift sight and thousands of white cranes all on a sudden

flying in the sky, touching the vermilion,

beating the air by their wings make a storm in sand,

and also flying my ashy dream covered romantic hair.

Dear, I donít know, will these red light touch you , not touching the

empty sands beside me! I donít know, will your hands play like a deer

in the forest of my curling hairs with a burning emotion;

Like the wet breast of a crane will your face be wet by tears,

and say me, ---- for which I have kept my afternoon sun so innocent!

I rinse regularly in the holy river Karnafully!

Dear, mail me, how the blue sky with clusters of red, like the shirt

gifted by you, drizzles you and make you nostalgicÖÖ..

Mali me, how terrible the single evening is!!!!

~*~

Feelings of a Disturbed Man

Barry Juan Carter

Thought tainted with confusion

Speech diverted from overwhelming feelings

Judgment clouded by false accusations

Body destabilized
from a single touch of your lips,

From a sweet kiss

Vision blinded from the immaculate star

That dwells within your soul

Hearing impaired to all those who bestow advise

For they do not perceive sound from the
harmonious siren song

Played by your saccharine voice

To my friends I am a fool

To my family I am blinded by Light

But to my lady, I am in love

~*~

BLENDING

Cobbler Bowe

Slowdancing

Man and woman

Becoming one

Like 2 bodies of water

Blending

Music

The 3rd body of water

Blending

Till all is smoothness

Nothing exists

Outside this ocean

Of man and woman.

~*~

I'm so lonely tonight...

Staying hidden and out of sight.

I feel like a stranger everywhere.

I feel like everyone wants to stop and stare.

I wish there was someone here for me.

Someone that can see what I see.

Why does everyone look at me that way?

Why can't I go out and play?

Everyone else's life is flawless.

Why is mine so meaningless?

Someone come and find this lost soul.

I don't wanna play hide and seek anymore.

I'm scared to be alone with myself.

Bottled up, stuck on this dusty shelf.

No one cares that I exist.

I'm the only one on the list.

So afraid not to be accepted.

I thought I was, but I was descepted.

Now I'm jotting with my ink.

It's the only way I can think.

Everything ends in a rhyme.

I don't want to take it this time.

I'm so alone here in my mind.

It's hard to think when everything's in rewind.

Nothing makes sense.

My thought sometimes get to intense.

They scare me sometimes.

Is it all truth or are they all lies?

I just want to run away.

Is there ever going to be an end to today?

Why do I want to cry?

Why are my eyes so dry?

Who can straighten this crookedness?

Who can fix this fuck'n mess?

What's going on here?

What's that I hear?

When can I just evaporate?

When can I concentrate?

I'm so lost.

I feel tossed.

There's my reflection in the mirror.

Why won't it disappear?

Please...

Breeze...

Blow me away.

So I don't have to stay.

Goodbye.

I'm gone in the blink of an eye...

Travis Zell

~*~

My Name

Megan Ovunwo

My name is a not a name of shame

My name should never be taken as game

My name is unique

And when I open up my mouth to speak

What Iím saying is never weak

My name is a birthmark

Like wires sending sparks

When you hear my name

You should be blessed

Because I try to be original

Unlike the rest.

Back then during slavery

My black ancestors showed

A lot of bravery

They held their chins up high

While steady reaching for the sky

Anything to keep our name.

As im reading this poem to you.

I want all yawl to know that

This goes for you too.

Always remember your name

Because your name is a name of

Fame.

~*~

standing here alone

but that doesn't mean im lonely

your face burned into my mind

as if i stared into the sun

your touch etched into my memories

as if carved by a knife

wishing you were beside me still

craving your gentle caress

wanting you all the more

for the denial i must endure

kid lost

~*~

The Voice Of Reason

By Kreshona Walrath

Hate surrounds us,

Causes people to fight,

They listen but do not hear,

The pleas of those around them,

Makes them ignore the voice of reason.

Agony waits just around the corner,

Pain and desperation makes them fear,

The problems all around them

The wants and needs they canít support,

Causes anger to appear and make people hate and fight.

The pointless wars crusades and battles

Creates enemies anew and renews the old ones

The voice of reason calls for an end to these wars

So people can live in peace and happiness

Living the life they dreamed of living

Giving their children the world they dream of

Creating the hope the keeps people living on.

Ignoring the voice of reason,

These battles and wars continue

Destroying everything that was planned for

Leaving anger in the place of love

Disaster prevails killing faith and hope.

Listen to the voice of reason

Listen well

For the voice of reason

Will keep all of our dreams in tact

And will keep the hope alive,

While all of our anger will die.

~*~

Twas the start of craze unaffected by logic

How a moment so blissful demanding joyous frolic

Ended in pain far worse than catastrophic

A day in which all was deceitful

When true was untrue and the unimportant meaningful

When blessings of peace were carried not by a dove

Twas the day that the innocent fell in love

All was wrong not a breath breathed truth

All that seemed harmless was keen as oneís tooth

Eyes had forsaken him

Betrayed by the sight of what his eyes were to see

All emotions ran feral all sense began to flee

Love had unraveled and the innocent stood unaware of what this might be

The inception of misery was this day indeed

A day which to many is nothing to heed

Yet to one twas a day of evil creed

One which alone caused a poor heart to bleed

Unaccustomed to love this soul stood bewildered

Ensnared within a maze lacking exit and entry

This soul was lost forever and never to be free

Through mourning eyes cast upon he

happiness he will never see

Twas the day love stricken the unaware

Twas the day love forever cursed me

Jason B. Haider

~*~

take a look at me

tell me what you see

there is more to me on the inside

than what you see on the outside

i can fly like an eagle

fly way up high

i can fly like an eagle

touch the sky

i can float like a butterfly

sting like a bee

tell me

tell me what you see.

Ana

~*~

The Dreaming

Brandon Cobb

This is because you only deserve the words of a dream.

So If I vanished into steam you wouldnít forget this scene.

You spare 5 days a week to spare the weak.

If there is a God he smiles upon you.

Have you ever wanted to explode into pure energy?

Who should stay make believe and whoís the real enemy?

Tell me how it feels to heal a fallen angel?

Read off my label from your boss floss angle.

Alive I think. A new shell brings clarity to the severity of my new hell.